Elections 2003: Threats to Arab Political Participation

03/01/2003

On 31 December 2002, the Israeli Central Elections Committee, comprised of 41 representatives of political parties in the outgoing Knesset, voted to disqualify the National Democratic Assembly, a Palestinian political party, as well as MK Azmi Bishara from 2003 Knesset elections. The disqualifications were on the basis that the NDA and MK Bishara "deny the existence of the State of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state," and "support an armed struggle of an enemy state or terrorist organization against the State of Israel."
Adalah petitioned the Supreme Court on behalf of the NDA and MK Bishara against their disqualifications. On 9 January 2003, in a 7 to 4 decision, the Supreme Court cancelled the CEC's decision, reinstating both the NDA and MK Bishara for candidacy in the elections.

On 31 December 2002, the Israeli Central Elections Committee, comprised of 41 representatives of political parties in the outgoing Knesset, voted to disqualify the National Democratic Assembly, a Palestinian political party, as well as MK Azmi Bishara from 2003 Knesset elections. The disqualifications were on the basis that the NDA and MK Bishara "deny the existence of the State of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state," and "support an armed struggle of an enemy state or terrorist organization against the State of Israel."

Adalah petitioned the Supreme Court on behalf of the NDA and MK Bishara against their disqualifications. On 9 January 2003, in a 7 to 4 decision, the Supreme Court cancelled the CEC's decision, reinstating both the NDA and MK Bishara for candidacy in the elections.